The Dilemma

Issues of infidelity, trust and honesty are at the center of this latest feature by Ron Howard who returns to comedy after more than a decade of directing dramas and thrillers.

Ronny (Vince Vaughn) discovers his buddy's wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder) in the arms of another man, the heavily tattooed Zip (Channing Tatum). The Dilemma centers around Ronny’s attempts to tell his buddy Nick (Kevin James) about the affair without jeopardizing their friendship, their impending business deal and his engagement to the beautiful Beth (Jennifer Connelly).

While serious topics tilt the comedy, good performances uplift it, especially Winona Ryder’s challenging multifaceted role as the conniving cheating wife, the ex lover, and the old time friend.

TRON: Legacy

Just like the original 1982 release of the groundbreaking cult classic TRON that set the beginning of CGI, Disney's newly released futuristic action adventure TRON: Legacy stands out in cutting-edge, high tech special effects and set designs.

Perfectly blending the real and the unreal, the never before seen on the big screen digital landscape consists of unique live action, photorealistic CG as well as hand drawn animation. The Grid's stunning visuals and arresting dynamic action scenes are amplified by 3D and IMAX®.

In his debut as feature director, Joseph Kosinski uses geometric shapes and minimalist interiors. Innovative use of light leaves every surface illuminated, including the drinks and the self-illuminated body-molded suits by costume designer Michael Wilkinson. In addition, fans will recognize many of the original film's images and props incorporated in the scene showing Flynn's secret lab.

Following the 20 year mysterious disappearance of his leading tech visionary father, Kevin Flynn (Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Jeff Bridges), the rebellious 27-year-old Sam Flynn (newcomer Garrett Hedlund) finds himself at the epicenter of a digital world ruled by a ruthless villain. With the help of the beautiful and fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde) he embarks in a life-and-death journey marked by gladiator-like lightcycle vehicular chases, disc battles, weapons, light discs and teleportation.

Bridges performs both parts of the hero and his younger fully digital character, the villain Clu, whose movements and facial expressions Bridges controls by a helmet mounted camera.

Additional good cast includes Bruce Boxleitner as Kevin Flynn's longtime friend and associate, Alan Bradley, James Frain as Clu's main henchman proficient in intelligence gathering, Jarvis, Beau Garrett as the Siren Gem, and Michael Sheen in the role of the dandified club owner, Castor.

The award winning French musical duo Daft Punk's phenomenal score blurs the limit of music and sound design with a unique combination of orchestra, electronic and granular sounds intricately tied to the visuals.

Engaging action and arresting visuals immerse the viewers in this original and fascinating cyber world. 

India's Fabled City: The Art of Courtly Lucknow

Celebrating the sophistication and splendor of mid-18^th and mid-19^th century Lucknow, is the core of this first major international exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Following ten years of planning, curators Stephen Markel and Tushara Bindu Gude provide a historical framework for this region's rich and unique artistry, and display Lucknow's artistic transformation, from the traditional 16^th century paintings depicting the royal court and battle scenes, to the more cosmopolitan landscapes and daily life. As a multicultural nexus point, Lucknow flourished leaving behind vibrant aesthetic achievements and a vital artistic legacy.

The exhibit has something for everyone. Following a chronological and thematic display, this extraordinary exhibit is presented in twelve sections and ten galleries of approximately 200 British and Indian artworks. Included are portraits of Awadh rulers and their patronage of European artists, paintings and 19^th century Indian photographs capturing the beautiful city architecture and landscape, prints, textiles, sumptuous decorative arts, royal garments, weaponry, jewelry and Indian films.

Following its run at LACMA, the exhibition will travel to Musée National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, Paris, and will be on view from April 6, 2011 through July 11, 2011.

The exhibition is organized by LACMA curator of South and Southeast Asian art and department head Stephen Markel and associate curator Tushara Bindu Gude.

The exhibit runs from December 12, 2010 through February 27, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Black Swan

Similar to The Wrestler, director Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan shares the ruthless competitive drive, as well as the obsessive pressures some undergo to reach their goal.

Aronofsky sets his first psychological thriller in the world of New York Ballet where prima ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) is pushed to the limit by her demanding artistic director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) as she competes against her rival Lily (Mila Kunis).

In what may be considered her best performance to date, Portman delivers a riveting portrayal of Nina. Inhabiting a complex multifaceted personality and fragile mental state, Nina gradually loses herself in her frightening quest for perfection.

Visceral light and dark scenes filled with refractive mirrors create parallels between Nina and her Swan Lake character. Matthew Libatique's hand held camera work captures the dancers' energy, sweat and pain, effectively submerging the audience into a rarely seen backstage reality of dance. Clint Mansell's score weaved with Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake heightens the unsettling mood and edge of the seat suspense.

When We Leave (Die Fremde)

The 83rd Academy Awards® 2011 Official German entry for the Best Foreign Language Film is a complex and gripping portrait of a family in crisis.

Hoping to start a new life, Umay (Sibel Kekilli) flees, along with her five years old son Cem (Nizam Schiller), from her oppressive marriage in Istanbul, Turkey, to her native Berlin, Germany. Instead, her path for self determination leads to intense conflicts with her family who love her but are bound by culture and traditions.

The superb cast includes Turkish stars Settar Tanriögen as Kader, Umay's father, and Derya Alabora as Halime, Umay’s mother. However, it is Sibel Kekilli's remarkable screen presence and expression of inner turmoil that steals the show.

The feature's most exceptional shots are also the most heartbreaking and violent. Included are many non-verbal, yet extremely powerful, expressive, and moving scenes.

The cast conveys a realistic empathetic portrayal of the transcultural and sociocultural conflicts impacting all of the family members. The skillful narrative by Feo Aladag, in her debut as writer, director and co-producer with Züli Aladag, portrays the dreadful predicaments of honor killing on all the characters, including the men, showing them not simply as culprits but also as victims of a structural, traditional dynamics.


Film opens in the United States, January 28, 2011. Find additional information at www.WhenWeLeave.com

Tangled

Generating a uniquely different artistic expression is Disney's 50^th animated feature, a fluidic hybrid of the versatile and realistic texture of 3D-2D CGI with the natural and esthetic beauty of the hand-drawn medium.

In what is considered the most ambitious 3D effort to date, Disney brought together an amazing technical team and an impressive use of technology.

Among entertainment industry's top talent, directors Byron Howard and Nathan Greno, along with executive director John Lasseter, and the legendary Glen Keane's technical team, give the feature a fresh contemporary spin, creating some of the most complex and intricate effects ever seen in CG: Rapunzel's glowing hair, 46,000 candle lit lanterns, 23 million gallons of virtual CG raging waters and large crowds of spectators. Making extensive use of the innovative Multi Rigging technique, the 3D images provide a continuous landscape of depth. Visual effects supervisor Steve Goldber, CG supervisor Jesus Canal, technical supervisor Mark Hammel and a technical team of hair experts headed by Xinmin Zhao and Kelly Ward, developed the Dynamic Wires software to perfect the natural hair movement.

Tangled features new songs and a score by composer/ songwriter Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. 'When Will My Life Begin?', 'I Have a Dream', and 'I See the Light', help relate to Rapunzel's character, while Mother Gothel's big number 'Mother Knows Best' relate to the over-protectiveness of the character.

Charming and with appealing characters is this Disney's rendition of the beautiful classic fairy tale Princess Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) whose 70 feet long golden hair possesses magical powers. Kidnapped as a baby by the villain Mother Gothel (voiced by Donna Murphy) Rapunzel is raised alone in a hidden forest tower.

Seeking refuge from the Stabbington Brothers (voiced by Ron Perlman), two muscular and menacing beefy brutes, is the witty dashing bandit, Flynn Rider (voiced by Zachary Levi), who breaks into Rapunzel's tower. Curious about the outside world and about the glowing lantern lights appearing in the sky every year on her birthday, the feisty Rapunzel makes a deal with Flynn. A breathtaking visual and adventurous journey of self discovery begins leading to horse chases, sword fights, prison breaks, floods, action, humor and romance.

Fun to watch is Pascal, a small chameleon, Rapunzel's confidante and cheerleader. However, stealing the show is the hilarious Maximus, the fearless horse on a relentless pursuit to capture Flynn.

Adding to the feature's enjoyment are the thugs: the ineffective Captain of the Guard (M.C. Gainey), the hopeless romantic Big Nose Thug (Jeffrey Tambor), the ferocious looking Vladamir (Richard Kiel), loving cupcakes is Attila, the tough thug with a green thumb is Tor, a tailor at heart is Killer, dreaming of becoming a concert pianist is Hookhand (voiced by Brad Garrett), and always liking to have the last word is Shorty (Paul F. Tompkins).

This dazzling and heartwarming family movie immerses the audience in this imaginary place that feels real. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Following nine years and seven pictures, Harry Potter's record breaking film series is coming to and end.

Marked by a dark and serious tone is the first installment of JK Rowling's seventh and final Harry Potter's book adaptation. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) embark on a dangerous mission to stop the takeover of the forces of evil. Obliterating ties with their families and, far from the safety of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the three try to destroy the Horcruxes, the artifacts that give immortality to their sinister archnemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), and to find the Deathly Hallows: an invincible Elder Wand, a Resurrecting Stone, and an Invisibility Cloak.

Compared to previous installments, this is the scariest of the series, featuring among others Lord Voldemort's most loyal and pure evil Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), and vivid closeup images of the enormous snake Nagini. However, the feature is also interspersed with occasional levity such as when Hermione and Harry dance inside their protective tent. The relationship among the three main characters takes center stage, bringing into focus its young stars' evolution into mature actors.

Through the expert direction of David Yates, with Eduardo Serra's striking cinematography, Alexandre Desplat's score, as well as the great special effects and visually impressive sets, the feature leads to the most anticipated, final chapter of this enchanting and entertaining world: the final battle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, set for release Summer 2011.